Complete Compact Cook Kit Battle! - Does More Money Mean Better Performance?!

Complete compact cook kits are very popular because everything you need to cook a meal, particularly boil water for rehydrating meals, comes together in a compact and complete package. They also vary greatly in price…so does more money mean better performance?
#jetboil #msr #campchef
Specific Video on Each Product:
MSR Reactor 1.7: • MSR Reactor 1.7L - Can...
MSR Windburner 1.0: • Is the MSR Windburner ...
Camp Chef Stryker: • WALMART Jetboil KILLER...
Jetboil Flash: • Jetboil Flash Review -...
Jetboil Stash: • ALL NEW ULTRALIGHT JET...
Gear Used In This Video:
MSR Reactor 1.7: amzn.to/365451z
MSR Windburner 1.0: amzn.to/33nInVK
Camp Chef Stryker: amzn.to/3uNYdnN
Jetboil Flash: amzn.to/3gFaOBw
Jetboil Stash: amzn.to/3HMFFbi
Get Your Own PaleoHikerMD PATCH: www.etsy.com/shop/PaleoHikerM...
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[@Paulilmys]

I bought the MSR windburner after watching this video. Used it every day in the boundry waters of northern Minnesota for 9 days. Worked great even in really high winds. I was super impressed that it boiled 28oz of water in 4 minutes on an island with 20mph winds. Thanks again for these videos. Made cooking on my vacation way easier.

[@p.vincent5662]

I've had an MSR Reactor for years - it's phenomenal. One thing you missed is that the Reactor has a built in pressure vale to keep the pressure in the gas canister at a constant. This makes it much more reliable in higher altitudes and the flame is still strong even when the canister is almost empty.

[@paachi]

I have personally used the MSR Windburner and Jetboil Flash. The MSR is an animal. I have used it in really cold and windy situations and it works..no muss no fuss. A handy tip..the JetBoil pot stand fits on the MSR as well and fits inside with the 4oz canister + stand packed in!! I have cooked ramen noodles, made soup and heated up tortillas and toasted bread on a pan with it. No problems Expensive yes but I think worth it.

[@Funkteon]

Wanna know the greatest cooking and boiling system of all time? The Trangia 27 non-stick cookset. I have literally used it in 40mph (64kph) winds with no wind protection other than the windscreen that is part of the Trangia, and I was still able to cook food in the pots and on the non-stick pan within 15 minutes and boil water in under 10 minutes... It only suffers from the same basic drawback of any alcohol stove, which is that the high winds will mean you go through WAY more fuel. A completely filled up Trangia spirit burner in windless conditions will burn for approximately 40 minutes, but that same amount of fuel will be gone in under 20 minutes in high winds due to the heightened amount of available oxygen gusting past it.

[@itsmealikhan]

Thanks for your input as I wouldn't know about Trangia, do you have anymore information about any cooking system better then Trangia? Thanks again

[@JasonChiuTO]

MSR distinguishes the Windburner as a personal cook system and the Reactor as a mountaneering stove. The Windburner compares equally with the Jetboils, but the Reactor is an alpine stove designed to melt snow where running water is not available. In a class of its own, and reflected in its price.

[@Funkteon]

Exactly - They're basically just for professional mountaineers who eat nothing but freeze-dried food...

[@samhain9394]

Seems to have the same performance as the Wind Burner line for almost double the cost. i have the 1.8L and I'm sure it'll melt snow when needed 😂

[@nonservitium]

The numbers don't lie. That msr reactor performance is eye opening. That's some serious efficiency.

[@p.richter9592]

The Reactor is the most efficient stove I own, by far. Just remember to bring a storm lighter to get it going in strong wind.

[@barrystillwagon3951]

My windburner died due to lighting stove with an empty pot. THEY DO NOT WARN YOU ABOUT THIS DESIGN FEATURE. Anyway while researching to learn why my pot died (10 miles out in the wilderness), I learned that soft cloth is to protect the pot finish, not protect the burner. BTW, leadtime to repair the damaged stove from lighting with an empty pot is 12 weeks and $25 for evaluation and shipping both ways, extra for parts. So, because MSR does not explain this damage potential anywhere, online or in literature your $150 windburner can be rendered useless in less than 15 seconds, costing you an additional $50 to $100 to bring it back to usefulness. I will say that, since buying a new windburner, I have not had any issues when filling the pot first and then lighting the flame. BTW, if this happens to you, buy a new windburner at REI and return the bad one. They allow one year returns. Why spend the repair cost and the 3 month minimum wait for return? Make MSR pay the price for not adding a WARNING anywhere regarding this design flaw. Same story with reactor. 12 week leadtime as well.

[@wyattroncin941]

@@barrystillwagon3951 "man melts stove trying to boil air, is upset"

[@wyattroncin941]

@@barrystillwagon3951 by the way, looking into it the issue you ran into ABSOLUTELY IS MENTIONED IN THE MANUAL It's the thermal trip mechanism, designed to be reset in the field. Apparently for all your complaining it's not in the manual, you didn't read the manual.

[@SpaceExplorer31]

Really? With how hot these things get why would you light the thing with a empty pot? You need MSR to tell you that? It’s common sense!!! Sounds like you are a danger to yourself.

[@davt8615]

Msr windburner is a beast 100% But I'll stick with my Flash its still the best of these units, i work forestry and have absolutely hammered mine 6days a week for over 3 years and it hasnt skipped a beat! Doesn't get more tried and tested than that 👍

[@paulmortal7611]

A great review, thank you. I'm a bush box trangia burner kinda guy personally but love to keep track on all of these quick boilers. Cheers!

[@janmariolle]

Nice review. Thanks for taking the time for comparison. I really enjoy your channel.

[@ecttreker9816]

Great chart, removed the confusion for sure.👍👍

[@p.richter9592]

For me, it’s the MSR Reactor all the way. As long as I can get away with a canister stove, I’ll use the Reactor. It’s freaking awesome. Bare in mind, I eat freeze dried meals when I’m above the tree line, and make something warm to drink. So, I’m basically boiling water, and nothing else. If I was going to cook a meal, I would need another system. By the way, if you think the Reactor is expensive in the US, try the price in Norway. Full retail price of the 1.7 liter Reactor is the equivalent of about 506 USD. I bought my Reactor on sale, and got it much much cheaper, but still. Great review. ATB from Norway.

[@Funkteon]

It's expensive in Norway because the person working in the hiking store selling it to you is probably on the equivalent of a $200,000 USD salary per year due to Norway's uncontrolled inflation, so they have to make up the money by charging 500-1000% of the RRP on everything - I'm pretty sure it's about $75 USD for a pizza and two beers in Oslo...

[@p.richter9592]

@@Funkteon Ignorance is bliss isn’t it.

[@Funkteon]

@@p.richter9592 Your apparent ignorance of outsider's complaints about Norway while visiting must be bliss... Even wealthy Aussies like me from a country known to be fairly expensive couldn't believe the outlandish pricing on common consumables in the Norwegian capital and surrounding towns.

[@jgstevens5169]

Thank you for being so thorough!

[@WagonBurner1868]

i love my msr wind burner but it does have a fairly niche application. if am not using my wind burner the it is me soto amicus and in calmer conditions i snag my trangia mini. the latter 2 can make pretty much anything i want from a juicey steake to a sloppy eggs and beacon or fry up fish lakeside i also live above 6000 ft and fish and hike above that elevation.

[@MrTangent]

Yes! Thank you for adding the chart!

[@kennybunker2081]

Great thorough review. Thanks

[@williameddy7217]

Great Video, Appreciate All your hard work...

[@roastbeef8814]

Excellent review, I've got the MSR reactor - I've had it for around 20 years. It is still beating the pants of all the other stoves that my friends have, and after 20 years - it's actually proving to have been a very good investment. I think I paid around 150 pound striling for it - so, so far it has cost me about 7.50 per year...

[@stanchorney9698]

MSR debuted the Reactor in 2007.

[@laineruscelle6571]

I was leaning toward the MSR Windburner as it met most of my needs and for the price, I feel it will work great. I would like the Reactor as I live in Idaho right in the middle of the mountains but for now, the Windburner seems the best value for a beginner hiker. Thank you for the great video!

[@friedrichwohler3819]

fantastic job with this video. Keep up the good work.

[@2thumbsdown]

Another great video. I don't have any of the stove you showed here but if I were going to get one of them it would be the MSR Windburner. There is nothing worse than having to fight the wind to cook at the end of the day, especially if you are tired. Thank you for all the time you spend doing these tests and videos.

[@barrystillwagon3951]

My windburner died due to lighting stove with an empty pot. THEY DO NOT WARN YOU ABOUT THIS DESIGN FEATURE. Anyway while researching to learn why my pot died (10 miles out in the wilderness), I learned that soft cloth is to protect the pot finish, not protect the burner. BTW, leadtime to repair the damaged stove from lighting with an empty pot is 12 weeks and $25 for evaluation and shipping both ways, extra for parts. So, because MSR does not explain this damage potential anywhere, online or in literature your $150 windburner can be rendered useless in less than 15 seconds, costing you an additional $50 to $100 to bring it back to usefulness. I will say that, since buying a new windburner, I have not had any issues when filling the pot first and then lighting the flame. BTW, if this happens to you, buy a new windburner at REI and return the bad one. They allow one year returns. Why spend the repair cost and the 3 month minimum wait for return? Make MSR pay the price for not adding a WARNING anywhere regarding this design flaw.

[@craigleventhal3779]

I would like to see you do a review of the Soto Fusion Trek stove if you have not done so yet. Keep up the excellent reviews of stoves.

[@rickeyvarga5432]

Thanks for this comprehensive comparison Earnie! I have the MSR WindBurner and I also have the WindBurner Duo for use when motorcycle camping or backpacking with the Mrs.. I have found them extremely reliable in all weather conditions and they have outperformed all other cook systems I have used including the Jetboil. I also have the optional WindBurner skillet for which I have seen some mixed reviews mostly due to the complaint of "hot spots" in the heat transfer. However, I have cooked fairly extensively with mine, everything from bacon & eggs to sausage, peppers & onions and I can honestly say that I have found it to perform perfectly fine for what it is. I even made French Toast without issue. Now I'm sure pancakes would be a challenge but I think that can be a difficult task for any backpacking stove system. Have you used/reviewed the WindBurner skillet? Would love to know your thoughts/results ...thanks again, great channel and content!

[@samhain9394]

I bought the MSR WB 1.8L with the remote fuel line when preparing for homelessness and living from my truck for an unknown period of time while waiting for an SSDI approval so I can get my life somewhat "back together." I compared some reviews and the fact that the JetBoil unanimously seemed to be "for boiling water and no more" while I knew I'd need as full of cooking capability as possible from the one system I was investing in. I'm a 15-year career chef and baker/pastaiolo in Nebraska and it gets damn windy and cold here in the season coming up soon... And I'm not skimping on cooking decent food for myself, homeless or not. It's been two ½ months and this thing hasn't skipped a beat. It's chattered but it has never blown out when the pot is faced the correct way against the wind (there are no holes at the base below the cozy handle). I have used it with an aluminum pan to saute sausages, make pancakes, reduce sauces, and open by itself with a pair of bamboo tongs to toast a bagel almost every morning. As long as you don't set a flat pan or pot flush on the burner's lip it won't suffocate (and a small pilot hole drilled through that lip may solve that issue for anyone willing to test it who plans on using non-MSR cookware often enough to warrant the test...) and the thing cooks whatever is above it very evenly for what it is. I was very surprised at how proper attention to the mug-pot while cooking and frequent enough stirring can completely avoid scorching. Worst case scenario you just have to lift the pot off the burner every so often and heat the food in "waves", but the cozy stays on firm enough to just shake the pot without even stirring the contents and they'll keep from scorching. I baby the anodized aluminum and have only used a true silicone spatula and bamboo/cheap soft wood utensils in it, so still no scratches after at least twice-daily use over nearing 90 days. I'm not at all disappointed with this piece of kit, and I'm very, very particular about cookware and whether or not something turns out ro be a "unitasker." I highly recommend the MSR WindBurner and I was glad to see that you came to the same conclusion in a comparison test I cannot afford to perform 😄👍

[@robormiston2841]

Do you heat your truck with it also? I bought one and thought it might be perfect in the back of my canopy on my truck or my roof top tent but haven't tried it out yet. I was wandering how well it heated your truck if you used it like that?

[@samhain9394]

@@robormiston2841 Preface: This past week of Nov 28 in Nebraska it has been as low as 16⁰F and snowed twice. I was already hospitalized once for Raynaud's Disease reaction because my toes were blue, for an hour after I woke up while.on the vents cranked on high for an hour. It took another 2 and 1/2 hours in the ER with an IV and heating pads to restore circulation enough to be discharged. Consider this circumstance however you may in applying it to your situation. It's going to get much colder here as January and February approach, it isn't uncommon to see temperatures as low as -35 or -40 with high winds over 30 mph. I would say it isn't adequate to consider anything short of a propane Buddy Heater or something akin to this or a digital space heater plugged into an inverter (which would have to be very powerful to run that thing given the draw, and would need to be hooked up to a substantial deep cycle battery or power station to run all night). I do cook inside my truck with this, though I keep a window cracked about 4 in when I do to avoid CO2 build up. You can't really prepare against carbon monoxide since it sinks as it's heavier than air, so a portable detector is a good idea since it doesn't take much to knock you out and if the fire continues, kill you. Granted, plenty of people use fire in an enclosed space for heat and do not experience death by carbon monoxide, but I consider precaution and risk over anecdotal experience. Just running the stove might warm up the cabin, but not substantially enough that it will last anything beyond maybe 20 minutes to an hour. I've cooked ramen and boiled water, which releases a good amount of steam and feels like it heats things up pretty well, but by the time I've drank or eaten the food the temperature is noticeably starting to drop again. Plus, condensation on the windows and trim will get cold or even freeze and actually make the cabin much colder. Condensation is your enemy, always sleep with a window cracked.

[@walkerone9833]

MSR seems to be the winner in wind. However, the draw backs are price, and inability to use ubiquitous pots/pans which may be a deal breaker for those that do more than boil water.

[@Funkteon]

Exactly - They're basically just for professional mountaineers who eat nothing but freeze-dried food...

[@barrystillwagon3951]

My windburner died due to lighting stove with an empty pot. THEY DO NOT WARN YOU ABOUT THIS DESIGN FEATURE. Anyway while researching to learn why my pot died (10 miles out in the wilderness), I learned that soft cloth is to protect the pot finish, not protect the burner. BTW, leadtime to repair the damaged stove from lighting with an empty pot is 12 weeks and $25 for evaluation and shipping both ways, extra for parts. So, because MSR does not explain this damage potential anywhere, online or in literature your $150 windburner can be rendered useless in less than 15 seconds, costing you an additional $50 to $100 to bring it back to usefulness. I will say that, since buying a new windburner, I have not had any issues when filling the pot first and then lighting the flame. BTW, if this happens to you, buy a new windburner at REI and return the bad one. They allow one year returns. Why spend the repair cost and the 3 month minimum wait for return? Make MSR pay the price for not adding a WARNING anywhere regarding this design flaw.

[@adinglis4638]

@@barrystillwagon3951 Not another one of those "when I do something stupid its someone else's fault" dudes... Gonna be a tough life when you live every day like that mate.

[@browsman2328]

I have a Windburner and MSR DOES warn people not to put an empty pot on a lit stove in the instructions. It’s common sense anyway, I thought most people knew that, when I was a kid my mother would hit me with a wooden spoon if I did that at home.

[@BentonvilleMTB]

Thanks. Appreciate the chart for comparison

[@SeeIslandOldMan]

Thank you for your testing reports

[@JR-gp2zk]

I basically use an MSR Pocket Rocket as a backup to an alcohol stove, but I am in the US Northeast and don't like hiking in the winter. However if I hiking in the west or in Canada, where I could be on the side of some 14k foot mountain, I can see where the wind burner would be worth it.

[@andygrew4832]

Great comparison, thank you.

[@OutsideChronicles]

I ended up going with the JetBoil MiniMo. I really like the regulated burner and the wide mouth pot. I went back and forth with the Windburner. I ultimately liked the flexibility of the MiniMo. It has been good in the wind. Definitely not as good as the Windburner. Have you performed a controlled wind test with the MiniMo (or other Mos). Great video!

[@paulgiles7456]

Great video, have alway wondered which system was the best. 👍

[@nickhtk6285]

Love my jetboil zip. Bought it many years ago and its equally at home rolling around in the back of the truck or in the pack for a week on the trails. Rugged little beast.

[@mbarr1029]

Great Vid Really in depth comparison. For less than 45 bucks I made my own kit with an alcohol burner that actually has it ALL (coffee, filter, long spoon, fuel, wind deflector, ECT) and fits in one water bottle kit. Guess I need to film it now, OR IT WILL NOT BE TRUE. Going to film it tomorrow.

[@ethan367]

I'd love to see it man!

[@mbarr1029]

@@ethan367 utube,. mbarr102

[@buckaroopatriot2469]

Totally agree MSR top shelf and worth the money when it's cold and reliable is all that matters..... Also using the BioLife stove as alternative to propane limitations

[@bobshuff6156]

I’ve seen my Windburner outperform various Jetboils when the wind is up. I was looking at their newer remote canister system that has a bigger pot and pan. Would love to see you test and review that kit.

[@MichaelR58]

Good review , thanks for sharing , God bless !

[@redwhiteblue7831]

Awesome video... your video doesn't lie. Love my MSR Windburner Personal Stove System, recently purchased the Lowdown canister Stove adapter. You can use the 2.5L pot and pan on it. I made a video on it.

[@petercraven7930]

Nice review. Jet boil flash, mini mo, and pcs have different burner configurations and may provide different performance in wind. Although they won't approach msr's numbers. Larger pots including a stock pot and fry pan are available for the windburner. Are you aware msr also made a windboiler (wind burner's original name when first introduced). Reactor also has large pot option.

[@alaskaraftconnection-alask3397]

Great to see comparisons like this. You had a good test run in reasonably controlled settings and I feel this is fair-minded testing results. I think we have to give early credit to Jetboil with much of the innovation and popularization as far as 'water-boiling' systems of this genre. Of the knock-offs like CampChef... before all the adapters were so easily available, it made a lot of sense in terms of 'originally' designed to work with green 1 lb. propane. Size/volume increase was also a nice touch. I see very little relevance in this line-up as far as the Stash is concerned. Tho' still good for comparison sake... it really is a just canister stove variant vs. integrated systems like the rest. The MSR Windburner in many respects has benefited from timeline, pros and cons of Jetboil. For example: I tested the original Jetboil here in Alaska before they hit the wide distribution retail marketplace. My notes to them where twofold. A.) Little to no wind resistance... ie. I could blow this out like a birthday candle. B.) Piezo igniter is not good and unreliable... ie. often useless. I wanna say this was back in maybe 2002ish. Improvements needed to be made --- and in fairness I think they did in models coming out just a few years later. I still have that original - they let me keep it. I also kept the more specialized/compact Ti SOL that I got about 10 years later. I use Ti SOL to this day all the time. It is way better than original and has a regulator. Today, I'd relate MSR Windburner has benefits to claim the overall best in category here. The Reactor is just too pricey unless it is used in more group oriented applications.

[@SharkMarles]

Thanks for the video

[@markmartello]

Thanks Doc.

[@kelesin]

Great presentation. I love it. I would like to add a word: You can buy additional ceramic MSR 2.5 l pot and skillet with special collar to fit perfectly the MSR winburner. Not true the pot and skillet (or frying pan) can work only with the MSR combo system. Sure, they are expensive ... Additionally you can "transform" original Jetboil pot stand (or even Fire-Maple - bigger diameter - less covered surface of the "infra red burner"; the legs (or arms) of the stand are out side of the burner and hug it's collar - a little bend of these parts would be nice to fit better) to create a customer pot/skillet stand that will allow to join MSR windburner with any other kind of a pot or a skillet. Additionally I would recommend to buy MSR metal canister stand - bigger diameter and better support. Instead of e.g. MSR windburner combo stove you can also get a MSR remote lowdown stand. I have tried both options. Work good, better than original plastic canister stand. Now going to buy MSR windburner 2.5 l pot. I am not convinced to MSR windburner skilet (pan). The heat distribution is not perfect at all. The heat concentrates in the center of the bottom, not all around. Jetboil pan or GSI Pinacle works much better, the heat is more diffused at the bottom of the pan. Sorry for my poor English. 😉 Greetings from Poland.

[@starlingblack814]

Thanks Dr. Ernie; sure seems you get what you pay for regarding theses stoves. In the long run I think you will make your money back in the efficiency of the more expensive stove.

[@phillipallan2863]

Wow! GREAT REAL WORLD TESTING !!

[@Mohdock]

I'm still drawn to the Soto system, Soto windmaster and thermostack cook set combo. Just weighed mine and it was14.48 oz 410.6 gm. I appreciate that it is very different type of stove but it is similar in function and more versatile. In one of your previous videos the Soto Windmaster achieved 2.14 seconds and 9 gm without wind and 6.06 seconds and 15 gm with wind.

[@Ray_Here]

Good comparison. You can check out my Stryker comparison video. Compared to the Jetboil Minimo the boil time was much closer. I’m did not factor in wind.

[@Red_Proton]

I watch a lot if your videos. I'm so happy to see THIS video comparison! I'm very curious, though, why do you not let your thermometer run all the way to 212? If 2XX℉ is "close enough" to boiling, why not set your thermometer alarm to your desired temperature, like 200℉ or 210℉? Because I go crazy every time you subjectively elect to stop the test. LOL. But I love your videos. Thank you for sharing.

[@squatch2461]

Looking forward to this kind of test, especially grams of fuel used, for canister vs white gas stoves.

[@insoleandlaces]

Got a 1L reactor at a very good price here in the UK, just a brilliant piece of kit, only good for melting snow and boiling water.

[@kevinhaskins6619]

I have a cheap Flash knock-off that was like $45 and it works fine. I took out the tin snips and modified the cup so that it works with my Soto Windmaster (sits against the bottom of the cup with normal standoff distance) which I feel is a great all-around tool and the entire package is 10.3 ounces (without canister). You get a boil on 5-6g of fuel and for planning purposes, I plan for 15-16 boils per 100g fuel canister. That is conservative for 3-season backpacking. The MSR Reactor is the gold standard for efficiency in the wind but my Frankenstein set-up isn't far off. If I were melting snow for many people or days and I were limited to a canister stove, the MSR would be my choice. But personally, I'd go with either a remote canister stove or a white fuel stove if that were my need. For 3-season use, both in/out of wind I'm very happy with my set-up because it has the built-in cozy, sippy lid, and built-in handles that all make it a great coffee cup after I've boiled my water. It is a full 1L cup size and the lid fits snugly so if I tip it over I'm not losing the entire contents.

[@SeeIslandOldMan]

Doctor, thanks for your testimony. After your show I brought the camp chef . Economy only! Thanks again

[@-gdub-]

I picked up a Jetboil Stash on amazon for $103 the other day. I believe it was sold by Backcountry through amazon. I think I got lucky on a quick sale, but for $103 I’m happy with it.

[@DL-ij7tf]

I have the Camp Chef Stryker 200 and it's pretty impressive I think. I got a cheaper and slightly smaller set made by BLUU on Amazon and it was good but noticeably less powerful.

[@Sheps246]

Great video, I wish you would update with the new fire maple Polaris system, cheers

[@Colorado_Kkid]

Ernie another great and useful video ... Any chance you could do similar videos of the other types of stoves (Pocket Rocket types, Solid fuel types, & liquid fuel types) ? ... And then compare the winners of each category of stove to each other? .. Just a thought ...

[@mikevandebunt811]

Ernie HAS done the comparisons you asked for, but not the final one of comparing the winners -- that would be a lot of apples to oranges. I think he does have a fuel types comparison, though.

[@summittaedae2323]

The ultimate stove junkie channel. This is the channel that makes me commit to buying stoves I don’t really need 😂.

[@titanpreparedness]

Heck of a comparison video. Lots of good options but as the saying goes you get what you pay for.

[@dracphelan]

Amazon currently has the Fire-Maple version of the camp chef stove for $59.45 and has a 20% off coupon available.

[@gunmedic3517]

Great demonstration. I love the cooker from Wal mart.

[@UnlikelyHiker]

Thanks for breaking this down. After running out of fuel this fall using a BRS I realized that fuel efficiency and less so weight was what I should really be considering. I have a jet boil but again, not incredibly fuel efficient. I was looking at both MSR stoves. I was hung up on the two however as I do winter camping in the Adirondacks. I was wondering if the reactor would be a better everything stove even though I do have a whisper light. I think the windburner would be a winner with me as in those below zero temps/windchill the whisper light would still win with melting snow. All around I think I’d be happiest with the windburner. I’ve been trying to decide for months. I’ve seen all your other stove videos. This complete side by side definitely helped. Thank you!

[@barrystillwagon3951]

My windburner died due to lighting stove with an empty pot. THEY DO NOT WARN YOU ABOUT THIS DESIGN FEATURE. Anyway while researching to learn why my pot died (10 miles out in the wilderness), I learned that soft cloth is to protect the pot finish, not protect the burner. BTW, leadtime to repair the damaged stove from lighting with an empty pot is 12 weeks and $25 for evaluation and shipping both ways, extra for parts. So, because MSR does not explain this damage potential anywhere, online or in literature your $150 windburner can be rendered useless in less than 15 seconds, costing you an additional $50 to $100 to bring it back to usefulness. I will say that, since buying a new windburner, I have not had any issues when filling the pot first and then lighting the flame. BTW, if this happens to you, buy a new windburner at REI and return the bad one. They allow one year returns. Why spend the repair cost and the 3 month minimum wait for return? Make MSR pay the price for not adding a WARNING anywhere regarding this design flaw.

[@UnlikelyHiker]

@@barrystillwagon3951 I was aware of not lighting with empty pot from a few videos I have watched. But since I don’t own the stove yet I don’t know if they’ve updated the instructions. Thank you for the heads up

[@-joo3033]

@@barrystillwagon3951 no design flaw, light any such stove with an empty pot and it will kill the pot...its common sense.

[@gud2go50]

I love your channel!

[@karaski24]

I own the wind burner, reactor, and the remote canister wind burner and I like my stash better than all of them. If I’m going on a trip where I know it will be incredibly windy the wind burner will be the one to take.

[@dsfab14]

I got rid of my jetboil a switched to the msr windburner and I wish I did it years ago. My msr is bloody awesome

[@MrScout44]

I was able to get the Jetboil Flash for $75 (new), and although I appreciate your videos and think they are unbiased and objective, I'm sticking with my Flash. The MSR stoves are definitely faster, but to me, they don't justify spending that much more money. Sure, you will save a couple of minutes, but what's the hurry? Fuel savings is negligible in my book. Again, that's just me. Thanks, Ernie, for all of your reviews.

[@barrystillwagon3951]

My windburner died due to lighting stove with an empty pot. THEY DO NOT WARN YOU ABOUT THIS DESIGN FEATURE. Anyway while researching to learn why my pot died (10 miles out in the wilderness), I learned that soft cloth is to protect the pot finish, not protect the burner. BTW, leadtime to repair the damaged stove from lighting with an empty pot is 12 weeks and $25 for evaluation and shipping both ways, extra for parts. So, because MSR does not explain this damage potential anywhere, online or in literature your $150 windburner can be rendered useless in less than 15 seconds, costing you an additional $50 to $100 to bring it back to usefulness. I will say that, since buying a new windburner, I have not had any issues when filling the pot first and then lighting the flame. BTW, if this happens to you, buy a new windburner at REI and return the bad one. They allow one year returns. Why spend the repair cost and the 3 month minimum wait for return? Make MSR pay the price for not adding a WARNING anywhere regarding this design flaw.

[@bahjinelson3986]

I've never liked Jetboil much but that Stash is pretty sweet!

[@bcamping1]

Get 0.01g-500g scale. Aliexpress one with 4 buttons below the screen works fine for me. Kitchen 5g-5kg scales may struggle at low weights where you measure gas usage.

[@Oldsparkey]

The more I watch these reviews of the latest I realize I made the right choice , for my use. It's Old School , since I'm Old School. A Maxi Titanium Canteen cup , Duel fuel Firebox titanium Nano , Gen 2 stove and as a 2nd heat source a Evernew Titanium alcohol burner. Humangear Go Bites duo fork & spoon with a small ferrous rod. Everything fits inside the Maxi canteen cup.

[@grandam195]

Thanks. Now I know which to buy. Have not got the cash to waste. I do believe in buying the best value. Seems you either spend on the stove or the fuel. That is if winds will be likely even for part of your journey. With the cost of fuel and the weight and bulk figured in, the better fuel efficiency in windy conditions means there is a clear winner. I want to hike the AT when I retire nearby. There is a fair bit of wind blowing many days no matter the time of year in the area.

[@bigtom4709]

Which of these are best with alcohol stoves. Love to see a comparison video of these with various ones. I just bought a turbo gnome and considering the esbit for wind screening.

[@thedeafcattledog8608]

Nice video, thanks for the info, very clear and precise. I was researching which stoves to buy, and near as I can tell, JetBoil is no longer made in the USA. Everything I found said it was made in China now. I wound up going with MSR, they are made in the US still, and they have the larger 2.5L in the Reactor, which is exactly what I was wanting since I'll be cooking for two. They also use way less fuel than the other stoves I researched when conditions are windy. Less fuel used = less cost in the long run = less weight to carry. Here's the deal on manufacturing - you have two parts to cost - labor and materials. If you can cut cost on labor (because you are using political dissidents for "free") then you can under-cut the competition with the same materials. I think that cost should not be the only thing one considers when they purchase an item, and if something is cheap but uses good materials, you should be asking questions...

[@4th_Lensman_of_the_apocalypse]

You should try the Fire-Maple. It’s like the Jetboil but much better. You can fit a gas canister inside it for transport!

[@totoroben]

I bought the firemaple 1L pot with heat exchanger and Soto windmaster for about $95 total on Amazon. This combo is much lighter than an equivalent jet boil system, out performs a jet boil system in the wind, and has four generous pot supports if you want to use a frying pan. This is a no-brainer to me. I would run away from the Stryker and the firemaple x2. These two systems are significantly heavier than the jet boil, so while you save a few bucks, you add 200grams to your pack compared with a jet boil flash, which is significant. The firemaple store on Amazon doesn't accept returns, so bear this in mind. Luckily I didn't pay much for mine ($52) so I'll just have it for other things i guess.

[@shawnr6117]

You should check out the one from Primus , locks in place like these but with a smaller form factor

[@jctedsap]

Are there any that don’t use aluminum pots. I have stainless steel ones that are pretty light. Just prefer to not cook with aluminum.

[@Bill23799]

It could be the Camp Chef Stryker you saw in your Walmart store was on clearance for $60.00. The cheapest I have seen one at Walmart online was a model called the Camp Chef Ultralight Portable Stryker at $104.99. I have not seen one on the shelf at my store.

[@VetNavy]

I have the MSR Windburn which great every condition but don’t cook anything because it’ll burn. Great for quick boiled water.

[@mikevandebunt811]

The MSR Windburner did not exist when I bought my Jetboil Flash (I've had it for a Long time). If I wer to buy a system like this today, I would go with the personal Windburner. I carry a windscreen, so the wind isn't much of a problem. (I only use the windscreen on the upwind side so as to not overheat the fuel canister.) It's a great system when size and weight are an issue. But... if I want to cook rather than just boil, I would probably take a different stove. I do have the adapter ring to use other pots/pans on the Jetboil, but it's not an optimum set up. A remote canister stove with a windscreen is more versatile.

[@austinburns4213]

A number of people have asked why the Windburner does not come with a built-in piezo igniter, especially at that price. Sierra Designs put up a blurb on their website that answers the question - and in my mind, further confirms the engineering that went into the stove. To paraphrase - the design burns 100% primary air which allows the business end of the 'burner' head to be completely enclosed and shielded from the wind because it does not require any air coming into that area to burn. However, to keep CO levels in check with that arrangement, they designed it to run on a very lean fuel:air mixture. That thin fuel mix apparently cannot be ignited by a low-energy piezo spark, and thus it requires something a little more robust like a butane lighter or ferro rod to light. Very interesting.

[@snakehead5444]

My windburner was my first stove ever. Now I have lots of vintage stoves and none of them are comparable to my windburner for boil times or wind resistance, they can burn automotive fuel though..

[@danielteegarden8982]

I Want The ; Jetboil MiniMo Camping and Backpacking Stove Cooking System with Adjustable Heat Control For My Birthday !

[@luftwaffa1094]

Please can you test out the new Goshawk Era stove? It looks really impressive!!

[@mr.somebody1493]

Ernie, would the Windburner and Reactor also work as a radiant heater for the hunting shack ? Do you know how many BTUs they are ?

[@joesmith4222]

I would love to get just MSR radiant burner alone without the rest. Do they have those?

[@dustenmccammond5689]

I use the MSR pocket rocket for my style of camping and Coleman 2 burner for shtf. What kind of pack is in your video.

[@HK-qj4im]

Looks to me like the Fancy Feast Alcohol stove wins again. 😏

[@kerrybegin3564]

with similar tech and lower price points Bluu mount and fire maple needed to be in this comparison.

[@hoser7706]

Surprised you’d take the Windburner over the Reactor. Is that just a size thing or reason?

[@BBQDad463]

Convenience, light weight, and efficiency are good. Safety is another---and much more important---consideration. If my alcohol or wood stove gets knocked over, I could be faced with an unwanted fire of greater or lesser extent and consequence. A young couple almost started a forest fire in The Bob. They lit their wood stove. Flying embers ensued, due to high winds. The sparks began to ignite the grass for a hundred feet downwind. Luckily, my buddy and I were nearby and were able to help extinguish the flames. The young couple were fighting a losing battle until we joined them. There are times and places where the use of liquid or solid-fuel (e.g., wood, charcoal) stoves is forbidden by law.

[@arturocapulong]

is it ok to cook in a radiant burner?

[@romererunamerika9437]

MSR reactor is king but it is little heavier than jetboil. if windy situations, I will always bring the MSR otherwise jetboil titanium for weight savings.

[@skydaddy2426]

Where is that shirt from? I've been waiting one

[@randyyeager]

the speed has never been a factor for me....million things I can do while I'm waiting. I think thru hikers miss out on the point of being in the outdoors. Take your time, relax, and enjoy the countryside.

[@DL-ij7tf]

I agree about speed but one I'll add from experience, from what I can tell, is that speed is basically jet power and jet power will help a lot in really cold temps where a weak jet will produce significantly less heat and cut out sooner (too much of the canister being liquid from cold)

[@natea1042]

Hiking for 8-12 hours every day for 5 months gives you plenty of time to reflect on life and nature without requiring you to use a slow method to boil water in order to meet the approval of the internet zen masters. Its also worth mentioning all these complete stove systems arent super common. A Jetboil pops up every once in a while but most people have a pocket rocket or something similar. Just to clarify I'm not picking on you specifically. I've seen similar things said in the past with regards to other things like using a cellphone for music is also super taboo. I find that most people making those types of judgmental comments have never done any multi-day backpacking let alone a thousand+ mile thru-hike.

[@randyyeager]

@@natea1042 you hike for 5 months out of the year? no job?

[@randyyeager]

@@natea1042 all I ever hear is "I did the AT in 22 days." thru hikers never take about the scenery or the animals. They talk about the people they met on the trail a bit and how fast they did which ever trail they did. To me, sounds like they are out to prove something not enjoy nature.

[@randyyeager]

@@DL-ij7tf but that's more about the pressure in the can than the type of stove you're using. The stove is just a way to disperse the gas safely, it doesn't really up the pressure much besides maybe limiting the pipes the gas is going thru. I've had fires in mini woods stoves in -30, so zero pressure. if yer having trouble keeping your gas as a gas, try putting a sleeve on your tank and keeping your tank in your jack til you want to use it.

[@cardocann6689]

The radiant burners are a step above the flame burners but can you use them with a flat-bottomed pot (in calm winds or with a wind break) and gain the same efficiency as with the finned bottom - specialized - pots?

[@natea1042]

A normal pot/pan will never be as efficient as the ones with the heatsink style ring around them. Thats true regardless of the burner type.

[@janp7660]

That jetboil flash has way too much plastic. The cup should be metal. Good review. Thanks!

[@theotherchannel27]

i used the stryker from walmart and wore the shyt outa the O-ring ... and sooooooooo you know!

[@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker]

These cooking systems (except the Jetboil Stash) are specifically designed for alpine climbing and mountaineering, where the most important thing is reliably melting snow as fast as you can. There are far better stoves for UL backpacking and camping.

[@Case16710]

Just FYI, MSR seems to have raised prices across the board recently. I think Snow Peak has followed suit as well.

[@BentbrooksRambles]

Yep. Supply chain issues are doing that.

[@lizzaangelis3308]

I do like the MSR…. And if I ate more freeze dried food I might purchase it. However…. As I prefer fresh food over freeze dried. I probably won’t buy any of these systems as they lack for versatility , though Jetboil is trying to address that issue.

[@-joo3033]

Thats if you use the tall 1L or 1,8L pots they come with, nothing prevents you from cooking with the ceramic coated pots and the skillet...

[@steve-qv7zc]

why use a one fuel stove? i use a esbit three fuel stove

[@The_Unobtainium]

FIRE MAPLE. Period. That's it. No chance to spend that ridiculous money on jetboil or msr.

[@20Hikecdt23]

Where is the Zip?